Proposal from China's Chemical Industry

Natural rubber import tariff: China is the world’s largest consumer of rubber. Domestic production of natural rubber is about 700 000 t/a. In 2016, 2.5 million tons of natural rubber was imported, supplying 87% of the natural rubber consumed. However, China's natural rubber import tariffs are high. A 20% tariff is imposed on natural rubber in general trade mode. In fact, China and India are the only countries that tax the import of natural rubber. Consensus was that China would better reduce these tariffs and establish a special fund supporting domestic natural rubber protection, in order to promote healthy and orderly development of China's tire industry.
To strengthen the qualityof China’s tires, it was suggested to develop more refined and stricter product standards and national technical standards. In particular, performance indicators such as rolling resistance and wet traction should be brought under CCC certification to improve the national technical threshold. Moreover, the industry itself must enforce tire grading (labeling) – key performance indicators such as fuel efficiency, rolling noise and road surface traction would be set, and actual performance would be authenticated. And last but not least, tire traceability regulations are needed to enable tire recall and consumer protection.
Development of a strategic roadmap and timetable for action on fuel ethanol is recommended, to be completedas soon as possible, including a national policy promoting the use of ethanol gasoline all over the country. At the same time, draw on the experience of the United States to foster the implementation of fuel ethanol by means of explicit policies on renewable energy and clean air. China needs to develop national laws and regulations in this regard, and the use of ethanol gasoline should be promoted according to the law. Meanwhile, a number of fuel ethanol enterprises should be constructed in Jilin and other major grain-producing areas, to accelerate the use of stale grain.